The SAPS has issued a warning to members of the public about a scam circulating in various provinces across the country, involving fraudulent letters that falsely appear to originate from the police.

In the letters, the victims are falsely informed that a criminal case has been opened against them, and are requested to share certain personal details, Zululand Observer reports.

According to the SAPS, these fake letters, often distributed via WhatsApp, bear the SAPS logo and contain the names and contact details of senior SAPS officers, and, in some instances, the addresses of SAPS offices.

The scammers use this information to deceive recipients into sharing personal details under false pretences.

“The content of the letters is often tailored according to the victim’s location, with changes made to names, addresses, and contact persons to make the communication appear authentic.

“In certain cases, these WhatsApp messages are preceded by phone calls from individuals posing as police officials, who falsely claim that criminal cases have been opened against the victim,” said the police.

SAPS further urged the public not to respond to these messages or provide any personal information such as ID numbers, addresses, or banking details.

“Please note, the SAPS does not communicate with the public via WhatsApp or video calls. Anyone who has received or responded to these fraudulent messages is urged to report the matter and open a case at their nearest police station,” said SAPS.

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